On Land and Sea: Central NY and Monhegan Island, ME by Deborah Beck

July 30 – September 5
Community Gallery

 

Artist Statement

In recent years, I have been focusing on plein aire painting in addition to my studio work. This exhibit represents much of this work. As per the title of the show, I have spent a lot of time exploring the back roads of Central New York seeking inspiring country themes of interest such as old barns, animals, etc. Additionally I have spent considerable time on Monhegan Island, Maine to paint the sea/landscapes of that beautiful, charming, special place, immersing myself in that island life.

I love to paint and create art and I love nature. My work expresses the mysteries, energies, beauty, patterns and rhythms of the world as I experience it. My approach combines the best features of abstraction with organic representational imagery,. I choose themes that will be visually strong and dramatic, with colors and forms which interact in a healing harmonious way.

I earned a BA with Honors in Fine Arts from Brandeis University, receiving a special departmental award in painting. I went on to complete an MA in Art Education from New York University, then furthered my art studies at the Art Students League, Parsons School of Design, and School of Visual Arts, as well as at numerous workshops. Believing in the transformative power of art in peoples’ lives, I taught art and drug prevention education in the public schools for many years, and have continued to conduct art residencies and workshops in various settings and with diverse student populations as a teaching artist through such organizations as Arts Westchester and Lifetime Arts. I am an active member of Women in the Arts Foundation (WIAF) (board member), Cooperstown Art Association, National Association of Women Artists (NAWA), and Katonah Museum Artists’ Association. I have exhibited extensively in solo and group shows in diverse museums and galleries in city, state, and nation such as at the Arkell Museum at Canajoharie, N.Y., the Horticultural Society of New York, and the Brooklyn Botanic Garden.